Comparisons Drawn Between Trump's America and Nazi Germany

Columnist sees parallels between Trump's actions and the rise of Hitler in 1930s Germany

Mar. 26, 2026 at 7:00am

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In a column, the author draws concerning comparisons between President Donald Trump's America and the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in the 1930s. The author notes similarities in their architectural ambitions, mass rallies, grievance-based politics, and attacks on democratic institutions.

Why it matters

The author's comparisons between Trump's America and Nazi Germany's rise raise alarms about the potential erosion of democratic norms and institutions in the United States, as well as the growing threat of authoritarianism and white nationalism.

The details

The author cites several examples that draw parallels, including Trump's plans to renovate or demolish landmarks like the Kennedy Center and the White House, his large and charged MAGA rallies reminiscent of Nazi rallies, the January 6th attack on the Capitol that the author compares to Kristallnacht, and Trump's tendency to surround himself with controversial figures similar to Hitler's inner circle. The author also notes Trump's aggressive foreign policy towards countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba as another parallel to Hitler's expansionism.

  • In July 2026, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will close for two years of 'renovations'.
  • In 2017, a white supremacist rally took place in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  • On January 6, 2021, a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States whose actions and rhetoric the author compares to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Adolf Hitler

The former Chancellor of Germany whose rise to power and authoritarian rule in the 1930s the author draws parallels to.

Albert Speer

Hitler's personal architect who helped realize his grandiose architectural visions for Berlin.

Stephen Miller

A controversial Trump advisor known for his hardline immigration policies.

Norman Eisen

A historian of the Czech Republic who wrote about the 'whimsy lost' and 'eccentric spirit broken' in wartime Prague, which the author sees as a parallel to Trump's Washington.

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What they’re saying

“I couldn't help but think of Trump and Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and, in his dreams, Greenland.”

— The author

“Our 'mass deportations' are just another way of saying we round up people without warrants, separate civilians from their families and detain them in dark places.”

— The author

What’s next

The author does not provide any clear next steps or future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

The author's comparisons between Trump's America and the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s serve as a stark warning about the dangers of authoritarianism, white nationalism, and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions in the United States.